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WaveForms 2015

Previously named WaveForms 3 during beta testing.


Introduction

WaveForms is the virtual instrument suite for Electronics Explorer, Analog Discovery, Analog Discovery 2 and Analog Discovery 2 - NI Edition devices.

The installers contain the following:

  • WaveForms 2015 Application: Is the most recent Digilent virtual instrument user interface.
  • WaveForms Runtime: This consists of a shared library (dwf) and device support files. It is needed for running custom applications.
  • WaveForms SDK: Is the software development kit for creating custom applications. This consists of user manual, examples in Python and C++, and library header file.

Supported Operating Systems

  • Windows XP to 10, 32/64bit
  • Mac OS X 10.9, 10.10, 10.11
  • Linux
    • depends on Adept Runtime
    • .deb: Debian, Ubuntu, Mint…
    • .rpm: Red Hat, Fedora…
    • i386/amd64
      • build on Ubuntu 12.04
      • depends on libc6 (>=2.14)
    • ARM
      • libc6 (>=2.13)
OS WaveForms SDK location
Windows default setup location
32bit C:\Program Files\Digilent\WaveFormsSDK\
64bit C:\Program Files (x86)\Digilent\WaveFormsSDK\
Linux /usr/share/digilent/waveforms/manual/ & samples/
/usr/include/digilent/waveforms/
Mac OS X /Applications/WaveForms.app/Contents/Resources/SDK/

The Digilent WaveForms VIs device driver package is also available for National Instruments LabVIEW applications. This package provides a simple to use but limited feature set compared to the SDK functions. For more information see the Getting Started document.


Documentation

  • Reference Manual (this contains information as to how to install and using the software)– Wiki

Features:

  • +: new, not found in WaveForms 2
  • + cross-platform
  • + Scriptable application with JavaScript
  • + workspace based application
  • = Oscilloscope
    • = triggers: edge, pulse, transition, hysteresis, hold-off
    • = XY, data, histogram, measurements view, cursor, hottrack
    • + custom script measurements
    • + stream acquisition
    • = mixed mode with logic analyzer
    • + data logging
    • = standard and custom math, reference channels
    • + reference data import from file and use in math channel
    • + better cursors, hottrack
  • = Waveform Generator
    • = function, custom and sweep generator, AM/FM options, play mode
  • = Supplies
  • + Data Logger
  • = Logic Analyzer
    • = simple (edge/level) trigger
    • = signal, bus, SPI, I2C, UART protocol interpreters
    • + CAN, I2S, Custom protocol interpreters
    • + data logging
    • + stream acquisition
    • + better cursors hottrack
  • = Pattern Generator
    • = clock, pulse, binary, Gray, Johnson counters…, custom
  • = Static IO
  • = Network Analyzer
    • = Nyquist, Nichols, time view
    • + better Cursors
    • + Reference Channels
    • + Attenuation setting
    • + Auto Range/Offset
    • + magnitude units
  • = Spectrum Analyzer
    • = measurements, time view
    • + better cursors
    • + components list
Missing features that can be found in earlier WaveForms (v2) but not yet in WaveForms 2015 (v3)
  • Oscilloscope
    • processing in zoom (fft, measurements…)
  • Logic Analyzer
    • zoom
  • Spectrum Analyzer
    • markers, tracking, zoom

Note: In order to have installed at the same time the new software (v3, 2015) and the earlier one please (v2) install the last version of this, WaveForms v2.9.4


Download

Newest

3.3.3

Changelog

Added:

  • Logic
    • Protocol specific and advanced trigger, pulse length, counter, deserializer
    • Start interpreter from here menu, useful for UART
    • UART Auto Arbitrary/Standard baud rate options
    • Position scroll bar
  • Patterns
    • Prefill binary counter
    • Sample table
    • Direction for binary, Gray and Johnson counter
  • Logic and Scope
    • Trigger position and noise for record mode
    • Save acquisition as tab
  • Logic and Patterns
    • Save/load row/column size
  • Network
    • Custom plots examples for series/parallel capacitor/inductor/D/Q approximations
  • Wavegen
    • Analog Discovery 2 power supplies can be used as Wavegen channel 3 and 4, with 6th device configuration
  • General:
    • Labels for plots
    • EExplorer configuration with 0.5V logic input threshold
    • Insert panel for scripts in scope custom math, custom measurement, wavegen editor, logger channel
    • Application language/translation support
    • Animations for visible waveform transitions
    • Smooth curved waveforms option
    • Cursor view show option for each column
    • Script tool plots
    • Import WAV file for all platforms

Changed:

  • Using Qt 5.6 for OS X and Windows
  • Scope and Logic trigger position limit increased to 24hours at 100MHz, 31 to 43 bit device counter
  • Logic:
    • UART Stop length shorter with half bit
  • Logic and Patterns
    • Context menu split in two
    • Insert signal, bus, protocol
    • Event filter match option
  • Logic and Scope
    • Stream mode renamed to Record
    • Acquisitions (buffers) stored in memory, less HDD operations
    • Auto rearming for next acquisition and disable scope noise to reduce latency
  • Demo mode for Scope uses Wavegen channels
  • Scope measurement performance

Fixed:

  • Network cursor value accuracy
  • Scope
    • Measurement show option activation
    • Measurement units
    • Fixed low/high measurement algorithm which influences horizontal measurements
    • Audio output device selection
  • Logic noise was not visible in some cases
  • Wavegen
    • Custom and play data override issue in projects
    • 10ns longer run with repeat trigger
  • OS X driver install launcher

Known issues:

  • Scope calibration works only with “no limits” option, press Alt+F11 in main window
  • Logic analyzer trigger menu is not working, but trigger is selectable is signal row

Previous Versions

3.2.6

3.1.5

3.0.28

3.0.25

3.0.24

3.0.21

3.0.19b

3.0.17

3.0.16